PC audio problem. Help please

[focused]

I am getting loads of crackling/hissing sounds through my PC audio set-up.
I have bought a new set of Creative speakers but the problem is still there
could it be my sound-card or something else I've not considered?

[chriswright]

Dodgy cable connecting speakers to sound card?

[thepassenger]

Could be a lot of things.
Simplest one to check is to make wiggle the cables, see if it gets worse or gets better then replace that cable or try a spare one if you have it.
If that doesn't work then it *could* be that the jack on the soundcard is loose again simple to fix with a touch of solder.

It *might* be something I read about on an audiophile forum, something like "local loop grounding" I think they called it; but basically it boils down to the speaker cable picking up on the EM noise the computer is spitting out. Before anyone says anything I am working from memory on that
But it boiled down to trying to move the cables away from power feeds, trying to shield the cables from it and such.

Sidenote: When I jack headphones in to my laptop I hear a hiss, however it goes away once music starts to play, but the speakers are silent until needed.

[focused]

chriswright said:

Dodgy cable connecting speakers to sound card?

Thanks for the suggestion but I changed all the cables when I replaced the speaker system.
The problem seems to be mostly the mid-range as Sub works ok

[voyds9]

Is the gain all the way up on the sound board
Try reseating the board

[rameshuk]

I have you accidently enabled the line in or microphone input ?

Also the further away the sound card is from the video card the better.

[focused]

thepassenger said:

If that doesn't work then it *could* be that the jack on the soundcard is loose again simple to fix with a touch of solder.

I think you've hit the right note there(crap pun intended, sorry), though I don't have any soldering gear so a new card would be cheaper/quicker/easier I reckon.

Thanks for your help

[focused]

voyds9 said:

Is the gain all the way up on the sound board Try reseating the board

Thanks, I will try that.

rameshuk said:

I have you accidently enabled the line in or microphone input ?

Thanks, I don't know how to check for that though